Back to Indiana
Warren County, IN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Warren County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Warren Circuit Court |
| Clerk and courthouse address | Warren County Courthouse, Second Floor, 125 North Monroe Street, Suite 11, Williamsport, IN 47993 |
| Courtroom address | Warren Circuit Court, Suite 6, 125 North Monroe Street, Williamsport, IN 47993 |
| Mailing | Use the clerk's courthouse address unless the clerk gives different mailing instructions. |
| Clerk phone | (765) 764-5888 |
| Court phone | (765) 764-5888, extension 2 |
| Fax | (765) 764-1692 |
| [email protected] for the clerk; [email protected] for the court | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Closed for major holidays. |
| Cost to open an estate | $177 under IC 33-37, current through the 2026 Legislative Session, for a petition seeking letters testamentary or letters of general administration. Offering a will for probate alone is treated differently under IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3). |
| Local probate forms | No dedicated Warren County probate or estate forms are listed on the court's forms page. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through the Indiana E-Filing System under Ind. Trial Rule 87. Unrepresented litigants are encouraged but not required to use e-filing. |
| Case search | Search public estate cases on MyCase at https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/. |
| Remote appearance | Indiana Administrative Rule 14 controls remote hearings. Warren Circuit Court's local rules identify Zoom as the court's preferred remote platform. |
| Website | County clerk: https://www.warrencounty.in.gov/government/offices/clerk.php. Warren Circuit Court: https://court.warrencounty.in.gov/departments/circuit_court/index.php. Indiana Judiciary local page: https://www.in.gov/courts/local/warren-county/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Warren County, identify the probate assets, known debts, likely heirs or devisees, and whether the estate needs a court-appointed personal representative. That first inventory of information drives the local path: a will-only filing, an estate petition seeking letters, an unsupervised administration, or a court-supervised matter.
Sunset helps families begin estate settlement by searching across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what was found into a probate packet for the Warren Circuit Court or for an attorney to review.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Warren County estate matters are handled in Williamsport through the Warren Circuit Court and the Warren County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Warren County constitutes the twenty-first judicial circuit under IC 33-33-86-1, and the local rules state that Warren Circuit Court is the only court in Warren County.
Indiana venue is based on the decedent's domicile: a will or estate administration belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a non-Indiana domiciliary, in an Indiana county where the decedent left property or where property later came (IC 29-1-7-1). For a Warren County domiciliary, file with the Warren County Clerk of the Circuit Court at the courthouse in Williamsport.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, names and addresses of heirs or devisees, and any consents needed for unsupervised administration.
- Choose the filing path. Indiana has no statewide court-approved probate form set, and Warren County does not list dedicated local probate forms, so most estate packets are prepared from attorney-drafted pleadings or court-accepted formats.
- File with the Warren County Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Warren County Courthouse in Williamsport. Attorneys file through the Indiana E-Filing System under Ind. Trial Rule 87; unrepresented litigants are not required to use e-filing and should ask the clerk how the counter wants a conventional filing handled.
- Pay the court cost for the filing you are making. A petition seeking letters testamentary or letters of general administration carries $177 under IC 33-37, current through the 2026 Legislative Session. Offering a will for probate alone is exempt from a court costs fee under IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3) unless additional proceedings are needed.
- If a will is filed electronically, file a copy and the required affidavit under Ind. Trial Rule 87(E). Warren County's LR86-AR00-110 adds that the filing party retains the original will for one year after the will is admitted or denied probate, with longer retention if a contest or appeal occurs.
- After letters issue, publish notice of the estate administration and serve required notices as Indiana law requires. The creditor claim period is tied to the first publication and the nine-month outside bar under IC 29-1-7-7 and IC 29-1-14-1.
- If the court sets a hearing, ask whether the matter will be in person or remote. Under Ind. Administrative Rule 14, non-testimonial probate hearings may be remote at the court's discretion, while testimony is generally in person unless good cause or agreement supports a remote appearance. Warren Circuit Court's local remote-hearing rule uses Zoom as the preferred platform.
- Once appointed, the personal representative uses the letters testamentary or letters of general administration issued under IC 29-1-10-1 and IC 29-1-10-4 to collect assets, deal with creditors, sell or transfer property as authorized, and distribute the estate.
- Close the estate using the correct Indiana closing procedure. In Warren County, LR86-AR00-109 states that an unsupervised estate closes by operation of law 90 days after the closing statement is filed unless objections are timely filed, and the court will not enter a closing order unless the personal representative tenders a proposed order.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Warren County
Indiana does not publish a statewide court-approved probate form set for opening a full estate, and Warren County's court forms page does not list dedicated probate or estate forms. Plan to prepare a petition, proposed order, notices, and any supporting papers in a format the Warren County Clerk of the Circuit Court can accept.
The one statewide estate form identified in Indiana self-help materials is the Coalition for Court Access small estate affidavit, CCA-EM-0722-5000. That form is for transfer of assets without administration under IC 29-1-8-1 and IC 29-1-8-2, is available for deaths after June 30, 2022 when the qualifying gross probate estate is $100,000 or less after the statutory deductions, and is given to the bank or holder rather than filed with the court.
Local nuance
Warren County-specific considerations
| Local rule | What it means for a Warren County estate |
|---|---|
| One court | Warren County has no superior court. The Warren Circuit Court is the only court in the county, so estate filings are not routed between multiple trial courts. |
| Closing an unsupervised estate | Under LR86-AR00-109, an unsupervised estate closes by operation of law 90 days after the closing statement is filed unless objections are timely filed. The court does not enter a closing order unless the personal representative tenders a proposed order. |
| Original will retention | Under LR86-AR00-110, a party who electronically files a petition to probate a will or codicil keeps the original for one year after admission or denial of probate. If there is a will contest or appeal, the local rule extends the retention period. |
| Remote hearings | Under LR86-AR14-115, Warren Circuit Court's preferred remote-hearing platform is Zoom. The rule also allows the court to continue a hearing if a testifying witness or party lacks video and the lack of video would impair credibility assessment or necessary judicial functions. |
Recent updates
| Current item | Warren County detail |
|---|---|
| Courthouse hours and phone | The county's current clerk and court pages list Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, and publish (765) 764-5888 as the current county number, with extension 2 for the court. |
| Current local rules | The Warren County local rules in effect December 1, 2024 include LR86-AR00-109 on unsupervised estate closing statements, LR86-AR00-110 on original will retention, and LR86-AR14-115 on remote hearings. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Warren County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by separating nonprobate assets from probate assets. If the home was co-owned in a way that passes outside probate, the Warren Circuit Court filing may focus on probate-only accounts, creditor notice, and any needed letters. | Sunset identifies accounts, organizes ownership and beneficiary information, and helps prepare a clearer estate settlement plan before a petition is filed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the qualifying estate fits IC 29-1-8 for a death after June 30, 2022 and the gross probate estate is $100,000 or less after the statutory deductions, the small estate affidavit may avoid opening a Warren County court administration. If letters are needed, a nonresident personal representative may need a resident agent and bond unless the court waives bond in an unsupervised estate. | Sunset helps collect asset details remotely, build the list of holders to contact, and connect the family with Indiana counsel if a court petition is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | File in Warren County if the child was domiciled there at death. If Indiana real property must be sold to pay debts or administration costs, the timing rule in IC 29-1-7-15.1(b) can make early legal advice important. | Sunset organizes the asset and debt picture, prepares the probate packet, and helps the parent decide whether to use Sunset's attorney connection for the real-estate sale and estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Judiciary page for Warren County | Lists the judicial district, local rules, e-filing link, case search link, and court statistics for Warren County. | https://www.in.gov/courts/local/warren-county/ |
| Warren County Clerk | Provides the clerk's courthouse location, hours, phone, and office email for filings handled through the Clerk of the Circuit Court. | https://www.warrencounty.in.gov/government/offices/clerk.php |
| Warren Circuit Court | Provides the court's courthouse suite, court phone extension, court email, and court hours. | https://court.warrencounty.in.gov/departments/circuit_court/index.php |
| Indiana Legal Help, Estate | Offers Indiana estate self-help information, including the Coalition for Court Access small estate affidavit and estate FAQs. | https://indianalegalhelp.org/legal-topic-category/estate-2/ |
| Indiana Legal Services, Lafayette office | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Hoosiers in Warren County. Intake determines whether help is available for the specific issue. | https://www.indianalegalservices.org/locations/ |
| MyCase | Search public Indiana estate cases by decedent name, including EU, ES, and EM case types. | https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/ |
| Indiana e-filing | Explains the Indiana E-Filing System, certified providers, and attorney e-filing rules. | https://www.in.gov/courts/efiling/ |
| Indiana Free Legal Answers | Allows eligible users to ask volunteer Indiana attorneys civil legal questions online. | https://indiana.freelegalanswers.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, and other assets that may matter for Warren County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized probate packet, including asset summaries, family information, and draft materials that can be reviewed before filing with the Warren County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Warren County estate needs counsel, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Indiana probate attorney for review, filing, hearings, real estate issues, or disputed matters.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the next steps, organize documents, and move the estate settlement forward without paying Sunset for access to the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Warren County, Indiana?
File with the Warren County Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Warren County Courthouse, 125 North Monroe Street, Suite 11, Williamsport, IN 47993. The estate is heard in the Warren Circuit Court, the only court in Warren County.
Does Warren County have a Probate Division?
No. The local court is the Warren Circuit Court. Warren County has no superior court and no local probate division label for estate cases.
Can I e-file a Warren County probate case?
Yes. Attorneys file through the Indiana E-Filing System under Ind. Trial Rule 87. Unrepresented litigants are encouraged but not required to use e-filing, so a self-represented filer should call the clerk before bringing or mailing papers.
What does it cost to open an estate in Warren County?
A petition seeking letters testamentary or letters of general administration carries $177 under IC 33-37, current through the 2026 Legislative Session. Offering a will for probate alone is exempt from a court costs fee under IC 33-37-4-7(c)(3) unless additional proceedings are needed.
Does Warren County have local probate forms?
Warren County's court forms page does not list dedicated probate or estate forms. Indiana Legal Help offers the CCA-EM-0722-5000 small estate affidavit for the IC 29-1-8 process, but that affidavit is presented to the asset holder rather than filed with the Warren Circuit Court.
Can I appear remotely for a Warren County probate hearing?
Possibly. Indiana Administrative Rule 14 lets courts conduct non-testimonial hearings remotely at the court's discretion, and testimonial hearings are generally in person unless good cause or agreement supports a remote format. Warren Circuit Court's LR86-AR14-115 identifies Zoom as the preferred remote platform.
Can I look up a Warren County estate case online?
Yes. Use MyCase at https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/ and search the decedent's name. Indiana estate case types commonly appear as EU, ES, or EM.
Do I have to travel to Williamsport to handle a Warren County estate?
Not always. Attorneys can file electronically, some hearings may be remote at the court's discretion, and much of the estate work happens through notices, asset collection, and closing papers. If you are self-represented, call the clerk before assuming a paper filing can be handled without a courthouse visit.
What happens to the original will if I e-file in Warren County?
Ind. Trial Rule 87(E) requires an electronic filer to file a copy and affidavit and to retain the original will under the rule's conditions. Warren County's LR86-AR00-110 adds a local one-year retention period after the will is admitted or denied probate, with longer retention if there is a contest or appeal.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.